John Mitchels 2-10; Bonmahon 1-5
John Mitchels qualified to the Eastern Intermediate Football final after defeating Bonmahon by double scores at Walsh Park on Saturday last.
They were inspired by a stunning second half performance by former Waterford United player Micheál Downey who scored 1-4 in a devastating 10-minute spell which ultimately proved the difference between the sides.
Playing with the assistance of the breeze in the first half, Bonmahon scored the first two points of the game through full-forward Richie Walsh, one of them proving a fine effort from play.
John Mitchels came into this game as hot favourites and they set about justifying the tag when John Power scored two frees in the 10th and 11th minutes to bring them back on level terms.
Mitchels then created a goal chance for Damien O’Reilly which was well saved by Waterford goalkeeper Tom Wall.
However, Power did score from the resulting 45 to ease Mitchels into the lead for the first time. The same player then scored from play to put the Fews based club further in front.
Bonmahon came right back into the game just before the interval when the scored an unexpected goal.
Centre-forward John Fitzgerald gained possession 60 yards out and ran straight through the John Mitchels defence before planting the ball in the back of Ivan Kelly’s net. This gave the Copper Coast men a half-time lead of 1-2 to 0-4.
Bonmahon’s half-time lead didn’t last long and points from substitute Fergal Fogarty and Micheál Downey soon had Mitchels back in front.
But Bonmahon refused to buckle and former Deise Under-21 star Ger Hayes scored his first point after being introduced as a substitute to tie up the game at 1-3 to 0-6.
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